TOI: TRPs ke liye kuch bhi karega

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Telly soaps still have their share of stereotypical situations and characters

Shruti Jambhekar

They say,the small screens show formats are changing.But some things continue to stay the way they were.The desi soapbox thrives on TRP-tripping formula that goes by the name of stereotypes.If you have been an avid/or even an occasional soap buff,then youd know that no telly show is complete without using the familiar formats which help grab eyeballs.

BHOLI SI SURAT

The sweet Miss butter-wouldnt-melt-inher mouth and coy adarsh bahu still exists on small screen.No matter how strong women protagonists have become over the years,the ideal Indian bahu is the one whos good at being the supporting act,even when shes the lead.Not for her the demands of a career.Home is where the hearth is.Rajita Sharma,producer of Ram Milaye Jodi says,While television shows have docile and sweet girls as leads,we have tried to break this stereotype.In our show,the female lead is spirited,yet sensitive. Yeah,we dont want to ruffle any feathers now do we!

VAMP DIARIES

Tellys bad women in Navya,Maayke Se BandhiDor,Saath Nibhana Saathiya,Uttaran,Pavitra Rishta are not as flamboyant as they used to be in the past (remember Komolika of Kasautii Zindagi Kay or Ramola Sikand of Kahin Kisi Roz),but the grey shades rule.The mellowed down vamp has the same responsibility on screen she has to create hurdles for the heroine (and her family/ friends/beloved) and scheme and manipulate for that.A lift of a salon shaped eyebrow usually does the needful when the vamp has to express her anger or a smirk can show how sarcastic she is.Aishwarya Sakhuja ruefully says that on,Indian television,women are either black or white.The vamps are so vicious,conniving and scheming that they seem unreal. But who cares as long as they can lure the audience into a state of suspension of disbelief.

CINDERELLAS PRINCE CHARMING

They say,chocolates,coffee and men,are best when they are rich.Prime time televisions leading men in soaps (Navya,Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon,Bade Achche Lagte Hain,Sasural Simar Ka,Beend Banunga Ghodi Chadhunga et al) are blessed with not just good looks,but also a whopping wallet power and attitude thats his birthright (Come on,if hes got all of the above,surely he can afford a little arrogance.The heroine and the viewer expect that of him!).Middle-class working heroes are a rare species on telly.Barun Sobti,who plays a rich tycoon in Iss Pyaar Ko Main Kya Nam Doon says defensively,Yes,I do play a rich guy,but,there are a lot of interesting shades to my character. Of course.Rich tycoons can transform into pretty down-to-earth human beings when they fall for the poor little female protagonist.Thats a lot of shades for a Mills& Boonish hero and is true to stereotype.

THIS SAAS IS NO DIFFERENT!

If you thought the good saas had taken over the prime time slot from the wicked ma-in-law,no such luck! The wicked MIL in soaps Maayke Se Bandhi Dor,Saath Nibhana Saathiya,Balika Vadhu,Na Aana Is Des Laado and many more might be in a bit of a minority right now,shes not letting go of what matters most to her,keeping a tight leash on her beloved son,controlling the kitchen and squabbling with her daughter-in-law,the new settler in her family.A frown marks her lined face as the saas grinds her teeth in rage and lets her emotions pour out in a stream of caustic comments.

HUM SAATH SAATH HAIN

A family that prays together,eats together,stays together and sticks to each other during troubled times makes up the never ending saga on Indian television.A family drama/love story without a joint family is impossible to imagine! Producer Yash Patnaik feels,Joint families,saas-bahu fights,and suppressed bahus might be major stereotypes on television,but the audience likes them.Producers and channels follow these formulas for the sake of TRPs.

OOPS! THATS NOT MY WIFE!

Getting married to the wrong girl can only happen on small screen.Ekta Kapoor can take credit for it too.She married Bani (Prachi Desai) to Mr Walia (Ram Kapoor) in Kasamh Se.Then Tapasya (Rashmi Desai) swapped places with Ichcha(Tina Dutta) to marry Veer (Nandish Sandhu) in Uttaran.Now,instead of Simar (Deepika Samson),her teenage sis Roli (Avika Gor) is married to Prem in Sasural Simar Ka.On entertainment television,following stereotypes is a sure shot way to ensure TRPs and very few want to be the change maker.In the telly world where numbers matter the most,nothing succeeds more than a tried and tested soapy formula.We are like that only! [email protected]

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